MovieChat Forums > Malice Aforethought (2005) Discussion > Differences in book and 2005 movie **SPO...

Differences in book and 2005 movie **SPOILERS**


In the book:

Dr. Bickleigh was a very short man. He had illusions of grandeur, such as becoming a famous artist, athlete, or physician to the royal household.

He and Julia discussed their marriage and his affair with Madeline. Julia revealed that she had only married Dr. Bickleigh to escape an intolerable situation at home. They were only intimate a few times early on, therefore she had no moral claim on her husband. She was agreeable to a divorce, on her terms. One, that he must pay her an allowance as she had no money of her own, and two, he and Madeline must wait a year to see if their love was true. Julia knew that Madeline was a malicious, scheming woman, but Dr. Bickleigh didn't believe her. Julia hoped her husband would, in the course of a year, find out for himself the truth about Madeline. While Julia was still very much disliked by her husband, neighbors, and servants, she was more practical in the book than in the movie.

Madeline was wealthy, and Dr. Bickleigh planned to live on her money. In the movie, Madeline was broke and dropped Dr. Bickleigh when she learned he had no money.

Ivy did not reveal her affair with Dr. Bickleigh at the trial, nor did she marry him during his time in prison.

Dr. Bickleigh was already in prison when Julia's body was exhumed.

Julia was unaware at first that she was being given morphine.

After the visit from the Scotland Yard inspector, Dr. Bickleigh experienced extreme remorse privately over killing Julia. He wished he had not done it.

Widdicombe did not see Dr. Bickleigh sneaking back to the house on the day Julia died. Therefore, Dr. Bickleigh had no reason to kill him. The roses were Dr. Bickleigh's hobby, not Julia's.

Denny's death from typhoid was never really explained, although Dr. Bickleigh was charged, as in the movie, with killing him. Denny did not become ill until two weeks after Dr. Bickleigh's arrest. It is probable that he contracted typhoid from the bad water at the Hall, not from Dr. Bickley's poisoned meat sandwiches. If Madeline had deliberately killed Denny with bad water, the book did not say.


reply